Storage and dispenser device for cut wire and the like



w. R. HORECKI 3,360,135

STORAGE AND DISPENSER DEVICE FOR CUT WIRE AND THE LIKE Dec. 26, 1967 Filed June 29, 1965 3 INVENTOR.

' 14,414 752 Q A oewe/ B2 7 i 6 g 4770 United States Patent 3,360,135 STORAGE AND DISPENSER DEVICE FOR CUT WIRE AND THE LIKE Walter R. Horecki, Downey, Calif., assignor to Pendleton Tool Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1965, Ser. No. 468,036 7 Claims. (Cl. 21149) The present invention relates to combination storage and dispensing devices and, more particularly, to a novel storage and dispenser device for out wire and the like.

In factories where electrical circuits are wired on a mass production basis, the workbench of each workman usually includes some sort of holder for the different gauge and lengths of precut and skinned wires required for the particular job at hand. Commonly, the holder takes the form of a rack having separate compartments for loosely holding different size and types of wires. Unfortunately the rack generally occupies an appreciable amount of bench or floor space, which is usually at a premium. Also, because of its size, it is often difficult to place the rack within the easy reach of the workman. Further, because of the loose arrangement of the cut Wires within the rack compartments, it is rather difficult for the workman to rapidly grasp and withdraw an individual wire. This slows the workman, which, in turn, increases the overall cost of the job.

In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved storage and dispenser device for cut wire and the like which is capable of storing wire of different lengths in a single compartment and separately and releasably holding the different length wires for simple and rapid dispensing from storage on a selective and individual basis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage and dispenser device for out wire and the like, including a novel wire holder which securely holds the different length wires in place while allowing for simple and rapid dispensing of the wires from storage without wearing or damaging the wires in any manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a storage and dispenser device for cut wire and the like which is light weight, portable, and generally open in its construction, yet which is capable of holding and retaining relatively large amounts of cut wire in an untangled array in a single compartment.

I Still another object of the present invention is to provide a storage and dispenser device for cut wire and the like which is simple and compact in design and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention comprises, broadly speaking, a receptacle for storing lengths of cut wire, with one or more hubs therein around which the Wire may be wound, and with an opening along at least one side through which the ends of such wire may extend, and a clamp member along such opening for releasably holding the ends of the wire to permit the wires to be individually withdrawn.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of this invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the drawing, which, by way of example only, illustrates one form of storage and cut wire dispenser embodying the features of the present invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage and dispenser device for out wire and the like;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a portion of the storage and dispenser device illustrating the apparatus for releasably holding ends of the cut wire in place ready for dispensing from the storage device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

In the drawing, the storage and dispenser device is represented generally by the numeral 10 and includes an outer frame 12 for supporting a relatively fiat, generally rectangular pan or receptacle 14, the latter including on its bottom wall a pair of longitudinally spaced wire guiding hubs 16 and 18. The receptacle 14 is adapted to receive and store different lengths of cut wire which may be coiled around the hubs 16 and 18 with ends extending from the receptacle through different ones of a series of yieldable clamps 20. The clamps 20 are adapted to releasably hold end portions of the wires and to allow the wires to be individually drawn therethrough from the receptacle.

More particularly, the frame 12 is preferably formed of a series of bent wires soldered or otherwise secured together to form a generally rectangular open-work box or basket. As here illustratively shown, it is bounded at the bottom, and at a level just above the bottom, by two rectangular wire frames 22a and 22b, and at the top, along both sides and at the back, by a third but threesided frame 220, open at the front. Bent inwardly from the front end of each side member of frame 220 is a short wire end 22d, so that the front of the basket 12 is entirely open between wire ends 22d and above the frame member 22b. The frames 22a, 22b and 22c are joined at suitable spacing distances by vertical wires 22c soldered thereto. Corner feet 22 are soldered to the frame wires 22a, 22b and 220, as shown, for supporting the frame above a bench top. Since the frame is of an open, wire construction, it is very light weight and may be mass produced at a relatively low cost employing conventional wire forming and construction techniques.

The receptacle 14 is also of a relatively inexpensive, light weight construction, being preferably formed of a single piece of light weight sheet metal bent into the generally rectangular form illustrated in FIG. 1. In particular, the receptacle 14 includes a generally fiat bottom 23 supporting the hubs 16 and 18 in the central area thereof, but spaced longitudinally of the receptacle, an open front 24 above a low front strip 2.4a, an open top 26, and closed right and left sides 28 and 30 and back 32. In addition, the receptacle 14 includes a top shield 34 comprising a generally rectangular back portion 36 extending from an upper edge of the back 32 and a pair of generally triangular right and left side portions 38 and 40 extending from the upper edge of the sides 28 and 30 with the innermost edges of the side portions converging rearwardly toward each other.

The receptacle 14 is dimensioned to just fit inside the wire basket 12 and to rest upon a pair of longitudinal crossmembers 42 of the frame (see FIGS. 1 and 3) with the open front 24 facing the front of the frame and the series of clamps 20. The members 42 may be the spaced longitudinal sides of a rectangular wire frame 42a soldered onto the ends of lower frame 22a.

In their preferred form, the clamps 20 comprise an elongated strip 43 of sponge rubber or other similar relatively soft resilient material including a series of adjoining or immediately adjacent lobes 44, best illustrated in FIG. 4. These lobes 44 are formed by vertical splits or planes of separation 44a extending downwardly from the top of the strip 43 to points near the bottom thereof, and spaced longitudinally along the strip, as shown. The vertical splits, cuts or junctions 4411 between lobes are adapted to receive the cut wires, as will be further described (see FIG. 4). The strip 43 of resilient material is maintained at all times in a state of slight lateral compression within a channel 46 stationed along the front of the frame 12.

Here, the channel is illustrated as being formed of two rows of wire, arch-shaped members or loops 47, which receive and slightly compress the sponge rubber strip 43. The individual loops 47 in these two rows are disposed in pairs, the members of each of which are aligned or opposed front to rear; and each such pair of loops engages opposite ends of an individual lobe 44, with the junctions 44a between lobes being disposed between adjacent loops 47.

The loops 47 of the two rows are connected to and supported by a pair of parallel wires 52 and 54, the wires engaging the loops from the outside near their lower ends (FIG. 3), these wires being supported at their ends from the end members of the frame wire 22b. Each pair of forward and rearward loops 47 may be bent from a single piece of wire, as may be clearly understood from the drawing, and the lower connecting portions 48 of the pairs of opposed loops are fastened to and connected by a longitudinally running wire 50. It is necessary to slightly compress the strip 43 laterally in stationing it within the channel 46. Therefore, the lobes 44 tend to expand slightly longitudinally of the strip, so that the sides of adjacent lobes tend to press against each other and against any wires therebctween (see FIG. 4).

To load the dispenser 10, cut wires of different length and gauge are placed in the receptacle 14 with the longer Wires coiled around the hubs 16 and 18. One end of each Wire passes through the open front 24 of the receptacle and is held in place by one of the clamps 20. In particular, wires of the same length and gauge are grouped and individually slipped downward between the same pair of adjacent lobes 44 of sponge rubber defining a particular clamp 20. The sponge rubber, being extremely resilient, deforms to allow the wires to easily slip between the lobes and surrounds the wires to snugly hold them in place, as illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4. Also, since the clamps are formed of adjacent lobes of sponge rubber, the portions of the wires secured within the clamps are not damaged, crimped or otherwise deformed by the clamps.

Thus stationed, the wires of the same length and gauge are identified on a card 58 positioned within a channeled card holder 60 releasably connected to the front of the frame 12, in the manner most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3.

Within the receptacle 14, the free end of each coiled wire tends to move toward the sides 28 and 30 and back 32; and as wire is added, it tends to pile up within the receptacle toward the open top 26. At this point, the shield 34 comes into play and engages and retains the free ends of such coiled wire within the container to maintain an orderly array of wires within the receptacle.

Since the exposed ends of the cut wires are separated, grouped, and firmly held in place by the clamps 20, it is easy for the workman to selectively and individually grasp the ends of the wires needed for a particular step in his wiring job. Because the clamps 20'are formed of adjacent lobes 44 of sponge rubber, the wires are releasably held and may be easily drawn from the receptacle 14 through the clamps simply by pulling on the ends of the desired wires. Again, the soft character of the sponge rubber lobes insures that the wires are not damaged or abraded during the dispensing operation.

Further, the arrangement of the clamps 20 allows the receptacle to store wires of different length without requiring separate compartments.

The configuration of the receptacle 14 allows relatively large amounts of cut wire to .be stored therein by coiling around the hubs 16 and 13 within the receptacle while the sides of the receptacle and the shield 34 hold the free ends of the coiled wire within the receptacle and maintain an orderly array of cut wires.

Moreover, the overall lightweight construction of the storage and dispenser device 10 renders the dispenser easily portable from one location to the other. This enables the dispenser to be preloaded at a central location with the particular cut wires needed for a certain job and to be easily transported to the work-mans bench and returned to the central loading location as needed for refilling when the job is completed. The compact nature of the dispenser also means that a minimum of bench space is occupied by the dispenser and that the dispenser may be placed within the easy reach of the workman, thereby increasing his working efficiency.

In the foregoing, a particular form of storage and dispenser device for out wire has been described in some detail. Changes and modifications, of course, may be made in the illustrated design without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut Wire and the like, comprising:

a receptacle for storing lengths of cut wire and the like, said receptacle having an opening through which the ends of said wires extend;

a hub within said receptacle around which said Wire may wind; and

a clamp member stationed adjacent said opening for releasably holding the ends of said wires to allow the wires to be individually drawn from said receptacle.

2. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut wire and the like, comprising:

a receptacle for storing cut wire and the like including a generally flat bottom, a front opening, a generally open top, and a top shield extending inward over marginal portions of said top removed from said front opening to assist in retaining said cut wire in said receptacle;

a hub extending from said bottom of said receptacle around which said lengths of cut wire may be coiled; and

a series of adjoining, resilient members stationed along said front opening for receiving and releasably holding end portions of said wires between adjacent members as said end portions extend from said front opening to allow wires of different lengths to be separately held and individually drawn from said receptacle.

3. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut wire and the like, comprising:

a generally rectangular receptacle for storing cut wire and the like and including a substantially fiat bottom, an open front, a partially open top, and a top shield covering marginal portions of said open top removed from said front opening and including a. back portion extending from the back of said receptacle and generally triangular right and left side portions extending from corresponding sides of said receptacle with rearwardly converging innermost edges; and

a series of adjoining, resilient members stationed along said front opening for receiving and releasably holding end portions of said wires between adjacent members as said end portions extend from said front opening to allow wires of different lengths to be separately held and individually drawn from said receptacle.

4. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut wire and the like, comprising:

a generally rectangular receptacle for storing cut wire and the like and including a substantially fiat bottom, an open front, a partially open top, and a top shield covering marginal portions of said open top removed from said front opening and including a back portion extending from the back of said receptacle and generally triangular right and left side portions extending from corresponding sides of said a series of adjoining, resilient members stationed along 5. wire and the like, comprising:

said front opening for receiving and releasably holding end portions of said wires between adjacent mem bers as said end portions extend from said front opening to allow wires of different lengths to be separately held and individually drawn from said receptacle.

A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut a hub extending from said bottom of said receptacle around which said lengths of cut Wire may be coiled; and

an elongated piece of resilient material stationed along said front opening and including a plurality of adjoining lobes adapted to receive and releasably hold end portions of said cut wires between pairs thereof as the end portions extend through said front opening to allow wires of different length to be separately held and to be individually drawn from said receptacle.

7. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut Wire and the like, comprising:

a generally rectangular receptacle for storing cut wire a support frame;

and the like and including a substantially flat bottom, 5 a receptacle supported by said frame for storing cut an open front, a partially open top, and a top shield wire and the like and including a generally flat botcovering marginal portions of said open top removed tom, a front opening, a generally open top, and a top from said front opening and including a back porshield extending inward over marginal portions of tion extending from the back of said receptacle and said open top removed from said front opening to generally triangular right and left side portions exassist in retaining cut wire within said receptacle; tending from corresponding sides of said receptacle a hub extending from said bottom of said receptacle with rearwardly converging innermost edges; and around which said cut wire may be coiled; and

an elongated piece of resilient material stationed along an elongated piece of resilient material supported by said front opening and including a plurality of ad- Said frame adjacent and along said front opening and joining lobes adapted to receive and releasably hold including a plurality of adjoining lobes adapted to end portions of said cut wires between pairs thereof receive releasabll hold end Portions of Said Wires as the end portions extend through said front openbetween pairs thereof as the end p i xtend ing to allow Wires of different length to be sepathrough 331d from Opening to allow pff f r nt rately held and to be individually drawn from said length to be sFparately held and to be lndlvldually receptacle drawn from said receptacle.

6. A storage and dispenser device for lengths of cut References Cited wire and the like, comprising:

a generally rectangular receptacle for storing cut wire UNITED STATES PATENTS and the like and including a substantially fiat bottom, an 2,591,805 4/1952 Gossett 211-89 open front, a partially open top, and a top shield 1,7 8/19 7 Shaw 211-126 covering marginal portions of said open top removed 3,154,195 10/ 1 TW d 211-60 from said front opening and including a back por- 3,253,017 6/1966 Al rt 20652 tion extending from the back of said receptacle and FOREIGN PA generally triangular right and left side portions ex- 144,201 11/1951 Australia.

tending from corresponding sides of said receptacle with rearwardly converging innermost edges; JOHN PETO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STORAGE AND DISPENSER DEVICE FOR LENGTHS OF CUT WIRE AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A RECEPTACLE FOR STORING LENGTHS OF CUT WIRE AND THE LIKE, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE ENDS OF SAID WIRES EXTEND: A HUB WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE AROUND WHICH SAID WIRE MAY WIND: AND 